WEBCLIP – CAR: Conflict hits the countryside

TEXT:

Kabo
Central African Republic (CAR)

Tanguina Chela
Displaced woman

SUBS:

Many of my relatives
have lost their lives and now,

here in Kabo,
we do not know how to survive.

We spend the day worrying.

TEXT:

For the third time in her life
Tanguina has had to leave
everything behind

In May, worsening insecurity
forced Tanguina and the rest
of her village to flee

Since December 2020,
there has been a resurgence
in the conflict in CAR

SUBS:

Throughout my life I have suffered a lot.

From when
I was seven years old until today.

The same story always repeats itself.

I was forced from my home
in 2007 and again in 2012.

TEXT:

Thousands have been
displaced within CAR or have
sought refuge in other countries

Government and
allied forces are fighting
armed opposition groups

This fighting has made rural
areas unsafe, pushing people
to move to larger towns

Benjamin Collins
Medical team leader

SUBS:

Amid the insecurity,
people are becoming victims of attacks.

Their villages are attacked by armed men.

Their houses are burned.

They are robbed and their property
is taken by these armed groups.

That is why they cannot stay
in the rural areas.

TEXT:

This renewed violence
is also making harder
the provision of healthcare

SUBS:

Some areas have become inaccessible

due to the road conditions or insecurity.

Patients are afraid to seek care.

There are patients
who walk for many kilometres,

up to two days, to get to the hospital,

and arrive in a state of advanced illness,
in a critical state.

Some of our community health workers
who were in rural areas

have had to leave along
with the rest of the population.

TEXT:

Consultations have increased
at the hospital after the influx
of displaced people

MSF has seen more people
injured by violence,
including sexual violence

Nguere Baro Bienvenu
Displaced man

SUBS:

We have no strength.

We cannot find anything to eat.
We do not know what to do.

The people of Kabo help us a bit

to relief the hunger of our children.

In the short term it is not possible
to return to our village,

but the life we lead here is difficult.

We lack many things, but what
we most want is for peace to return.